Shopping in the UK is a little different from back home. Shops tend to close around 5 p.m. during the week, or promptly at 4 p.m. on Sundays. For someone who shops at Walmart around 9 p.m any day of the week, this was like living in the twilight zone. Most days, it was extremely frustrating. I'm not usually decent enough to go out by 2 p.m., let alone get two weeks worth of groceries before 4 p.m. The few days I attempted this I felt like death afterwards for all the rushing around and carrying heavy bags the whole way through town.
Of course, I could go to the Tesco Extra that's open 24/7. It's huge, sells everything I could ever want in life and items are relatively cheap. However, it's across town and I do not own a car. Walking to and from the store takes 40 minutes each way. Oh, and don't get me started on tackling the hill before my cottage. It's like a hell walk carrying heavy bags of food. Thus I found a simple solution. Tesco online shopping and home delivery!
I cannot comprehend why grocery stores in Canada do not have mobile apps and home delivery. It is a godsend, and I'm not a religious person. Being able to create shopping lists from store inventory, check ingredients on every product and setting up a home delivery all from my smartphone is amazingly useful. The ingredients lists are especially important considering I am allergic to soy and aspartame causes my IBS to flare. I think the whole online grocery shopping idea is ingenious.
When we made our first order for the household, I waited eagerly by the door for the driver to arrive during our scheduled one hour window. When he showed, they only made one substitute for something cheaper and I was satisfied with that. We had to take the food from the crates in a mad dash so the driver could continue on his route. My partner grabbed the food and I began running a checklist of what we had purchased. It worked pretty well and I was satisfied with the whole process. We repeated this online shop every couple weeks and only had a few issues. Often our bread would arrive with a really close expiry date. So we would freeze it to extend its use and lifespan. Other than that, everything came as ordered. Even my "lady things" or pads for those who don't mind me being candid. Online ordering of feminine hygiene products? Yes, a thousand times yes. I never run out now.
I've got a handle on this adult thing now. At least, shopping wise.
Dana~
